Almost Grey

If

Chilly air bites at my face while the dark sky scares the light away. Oh, such irony. I barely can see my breath as it becomes visible. I walk quickly but swiftly. No need to wake the sleeping neighbors or be late to watch.

"And what are you doing out so early, ma'am?" A monotone voice says with a sigh, making me jump slightly as it fills the empty air of silence. I turn around to see an officer. I smile politely. I can feel his dull energy as I scrutinize his every move, his every action. I read him like I do with others. To me, people are like books.

   And I am a bookworm.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir. Just heading out for watch," My voice rings out into the silence as I pull out my card and hand it to the officer politely. He takes it from me, eyeing me, and scans it with his device.

   He is swift. He is bored. He is routine.

He is unchangeable and innocent just like the rest.

"Sorry to disturb you... Melody. Good luck. You know how crazy the country of Shadows can be," he says, picking my name out from the card before handing it back.

   He seems to be friendly. Or maybe he is just dying to hold on to hope. In reality, we all are.

"Oh, yes I do sir. Have a nice day," I force a smile and run off without a second thought of him. My mind set changes, and I am sucked back into reality. I can not be late to being early, I chastise myself. Laughter bubbles in my mind, protected from the outside world.

Always got to be paranoid, do you not?

I sigh in annoyance and amusement. Annalise always has to be in my mind. She is my best friend, but sometimes you just have to hate her.

At least I am never late, unlike someone.

I say back, mockingly. I hear her laugh again.

Yeah, Cameron is always late, is he not?

I snort out loud.

Yeah right.

I tune her out, not wanting to slow my pace down.

Someone is snappy today.

Cameron joins.

Ugh! is my only reply to them. I make it to watch barely five minutes before I am supposed to. Cameron is there, waiting, alongside Emily. I smirk.

I guess someone is late, and it is not Cameron or Emily. I laugh in my mind.

Sarah said Jack was supposed to come today. Annalise says. She is always up, even when it is not her turn for watch. She has been that way since that one daunting night.

No I did not. Do not bring me into this. And stop waking me up! Sarah grunts in her usual grumpy mood. She is not a morning person, and as I have learned, can be monstrous if woken up early. I laugh in my mind again.

Sorry, wrong channel, Annalise lies. I roll my eyes in amusement, knowing Sarah will give her an ear full later.

  We can give him a few minutes. Some people are not as paranoid as others. Cameron smirks, looking at me. I stick my tongue out at him, falling back into my childish behavior.

  Remind me again why you are not here, Annalise? I ask. She has more likely told me already, but I have been very forgetful since the accident. I shiver at the thought, blocking my thoughts from everyone in our link. The only actual person I told the accident about was Annalise, who gladly kept it hidden with me. I knew she was the only one I could trust; we are almost the exact same person. We both know one anothers next move, and we both know each others mindset. She understands why I want it hidden; she would too. Most of my other friends would have made me talk about it. They would have pried. They would have pushed me over the edge, and forced me to acknowledge something I was not ready for. Annalise would not, as she understood me as I understood her. We almost shared the same story.